<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Author>Mike Jackson</o:Author>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2012-02-02T23:22:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2012-02-02T23:22:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1286</o:Words>
<o:Characters>7336</o:Characters>
<o:Company>California Water Impact Network (C-WIN)</o:Company>
<o:Lines>61</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>17</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>8605</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal">All,</p><div>I got this from Allie Hostler, Editor of the Two Rivers Tribune. Their website is being changed, so there aren't any new articles being posted on it at this time but I am told they will be up an running again soon.</div><div><br></div><div>This article has a lot more detail than other articles I've seen on this issue.</div><div><br></div><div>You can reach Allie Hostler at <a href="mailto:allieehostler@yahoo.com">allieehostler@yahoo.com</a>.</div><div><br></div><div>Tom Stokely</div><div><br></div><div>**********************************************</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Whistleblower Says Interior
“Spun” Science on Klamath Dam Removal<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">By Allie Hostler, Two Rivers Tribune<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Published March 6, 2012<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">A scientific integrity officer with the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation filed a whistle-blower complaint claiming he was fired after he
questioned the “biased summarization of key scientific conclusions” in messages
intended for the public and the Secretary of Interior about Klamath River dam
removal.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On Sept. 15, 2011, Dr. Paul Houser expressed concern about
the integrity of a draft press release about the environmental analysis for
removing the Klamath River dams. He also expressed concern verbally about the
scientific integrity of the larger Klamath River dam removal Secretarial
Determination process.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Houser is not questioning the integrity of the science
itself, rather the way it was “spun” by the Department of Interior (DOI) to
meet the outcome desired by the Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I hadn’t intended on this allegation going public,” Houser
told the Two Rivers Tribune. “But since it has, I will talk and be true to the
story.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Houser was fired on February 10 in what he describes as
“systematic reprisal.” His whistle-blower complaint was filed with the Office
of the Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs on Feb. 24, 2012 just three
days before Salazar announced more delays to the Klamath dam removal process.
According to the Klamath Settlements Salazar was due to make a decision whether
or not dam removal is in the best interest of the public by March 31 of this year.
Salazar’s statement blames federal lawmakers for not approving legislation that
would authorize the settlements and his decision.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In February of 2009 Salazar gave a speech at the Klamath
Settlement signing ceremony in Salem, Ore., proclaiming the DOI’s support for
dam removal under the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) and the
Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Houser said the Department of Interior—the government arm
that oversees the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs among
other agencies—was motivated by Secretary Salazar’s publicly stated intention
to issue a Secretarial Determination in favor of removing four dams on the
Klamath River.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“The Department of Interior has likely followed a course of
action to construct such an outcome,” Houser said. “In 2009, Secretary Salazar
stated that the proposal to remove the Klamath River dams “will not fail.” This
intention has motivated DOI officials to “spin” or incompletely report the
scientific results toward a more optimistic scientific story that supports dam
removal.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Houser, a Ph.D. hydrologist who is also an adjunct professor
at George Mason University in Virginia, believes the DOI’s Scientific Integrity
Policy (305 DM 3) was crafted in good faith and that those who built it had
genuine, noble intentions uncluttered by governmental politics.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I’m certainly concerned about scientific integrity in the
Department, but I’m not going to discount the entire process,” Houser said. “The
scientific integrity policy sometimes interferes with other policy that the
Department has already decided to follow. Does the science support decisions,
or does science help to shape decisions that have already been made?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">DOI spokeswoman Kate Kelly said the complaint is currently
under review.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Houser’s complaint details two specific allegations. IN the
first allegation, Houser says the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Summary
of Key Conclusions: Draft EIS/EIR and Related Scientific/Technical Reports </i>intentionally
distorts and presents a biased view of the Klamath River dam removal benefits.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“It intends to present only the positive, without the
uncertainties or negatives,” Houser wrote in his complaint.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He goes on to cite five points, the first being climate
change.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Climate changes are projected to play an important role in
fish recovery according to the Klamath science reports, but climate was never
mentioned in the summary,” he wrote.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The second relates to recovery rates being projected at 81.4
percent, but he says that recovery rate was based on nine contingencies that
were not mentioned in the summary.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Upper Klamath Lake and Keno Reservoir water quality issues;
reduction in disease; enabling free migration to the upper basin; hatchery
salmon do not overwhelm spawning grounds; predation is sufficiently low;
climate change; small reductions in fall flows; and no long-term dam removal
impacts,” Houser listed. “Neglecting to report on these contingencies provides
the public and the Secretary with a falsified and incomplete scientific
summary.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The third relates to coho salmon reclaiming 68 miles of
habitat. Houser says the summary distorts and falsifies the science by omitting
information that was provided in the Expert Panel science reports that claim,
“The difference between the proposed action[dam removal] and the current
conditions [no change in current operations] is expected to be small,
especially in the short term (0-10 years after dam removal).”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He describes a similar scenario about dam removal and its
purported impact on reducing salmon diseases. He points to an excerpt from the
Klamath River Expert Panel Science Report that states, “Although several
aspects of the proposed action [dam removal] could lead to a reduction in
disease-related mortality, uncertainty about these aspects is very high.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“The summary also spins an optimistic outlook for Steelhead
trout, providing access to 420 miles of historical habitat,” Houser wrote in
his complaint. “However, the April 25, 2011 …Final Report…states this success
would be dependent on effective implementation of the proposed and related
actions [e.g. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)]; whereas ineffective
implementation would result in no detectable response.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Houser’s second allegation involves a press release that he
was asked to review by a colleague. The press release was purportedly written
by a lead Interior attorney working on the Klamath Settlements, John Bezdek.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Bezdek’s role in the Klamath Secretarial Determination
process as well as his role in drafting statements for the press and public are
called into question, by not only Houser, but other scientists and press
officials working within the DOI.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">After calling into question the summary of the Klamath
studies and a press release, Houser emails several colleagues to ask if they
too had similar feelings about the bias of how information was presented to the
public. He received several responses. Two scientists and two press officials
said they agreed that summary and associated press release were slanted in a
way that promotes the Department of Interior’s desired outcome.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">A subsequent email from Christine Karas, the Deputy Area
Manager of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Area Office, softly scolded
Houser for using email as a vehicle to discuss his disclosure about the press
release and summary. A copy of the email, along with 29 more attachments was
included with Houser’s complaint.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“As degreed government employees who may be called as expert
witnesses, please carefully consider the depth of familiarity you have with the
body of science surrounding Klamath dam removal before creating discoverable
records of your personal opinions,” Kara wrote.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Kelly said Interior will not comment on personnel matters
due to privacy concerns.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“It is important to note that nobody is questioning the
integrity of the science itself, and nobody is questioning the fact that all of
the studies, reports, and data are available for anyone and everyone to see,
review, and draw their own conclusions,” Kelly said. “All the scientific and
technical reports to date underwent a technical review process, and the
majority of these reports underwent a peer review by independent scientists. We
have made the process as transparent as possible, with numerous opportunities
for the public and outside technical experts to offer comments, ideas and
recommendations for science directions or approaches.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"">Interior stands by the science saying the
science is high quality and technically reviewed by independent reviewers.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""> But, that’s
not what Houser’s complaint is about.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
"Times New Roman"">“I was concerned that if the department was summarizing the
science in a biased manner, that the same bias may infuse the March 2012
Secretarial Determination,” Houser said. “Further, I stated that I was not for
or against the Secretarial determination outcome, but rather was concerned that
the science be reported accurately with critical uncertainties and caveats, so
that the Secretarial Determination can be made without scientific bias.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">-END-<o:p></o:p></p>
<!--EndFragment--></body></html>